Strangers When We Meet Page #2

- Sure.

- You get a chance, come on over later.

- Okay.

Hello?

You. How did you get my number again?

No. Never.

I'll call the police

if you don't stop calling me.

Margaret, shouldn't Patrick be home

by now?

Yes, he'll be home soon, Mother.

They keep them awfully long nowadays.

When you were...

If you'd rather not wait for him,

it's perfectly all right.

I'm sure he only gets in your way.

I love to have him with me.

In fact, I wish you'd let him stay all night

with me once in a while.

It gets awfully lonely

in the valley all by myself.

All by yourself, Mother?

Who was on the phone, dear?

Just one of the women. A neighbor.

Something wrong? You seem disturbed.

No, nothing's wrong. If you don't mind,

I've got a lot of things to do.

- If I can help in any way.

- It's a little late, isn't it?

- I'm interested. I simply want to...

- You're interested in me?

Don't judge me. I'm not to be judged by you.

I'm still your mother, you know.

- Yes, I know.

- Yes, Margaret, I am.

And I know a little bit more about life

and living than you might imagine.

I imagine you know a great deal

about life and living, Mother.

You're a very cold person, Margaret.

I never could talk to you.

I used to wonder when it all happened...

...how I'd be able to explain it to you

when you were old enough to listen.

How I could make you understand what

honest-to-God love could do to a woman.

Of course, it was pure and beautiful.

I'm not a tramp, Margaret.

Please understand that.

I'm not a tramp.

What happened to me

could happen to any woman.

I don't want to hear it.

Do you know what I wish, Margaret?

I wish you'd really fall in love someday.

I am in love, Mother. With my husband.

Yes, of course.

Margaret, you married

the first nice boy that came along.

- Mom.

- Maybe it was my fault, but...

Excuse me, Mother.

See you later, Margaret.

Good morning.

I think we've got a box of corn flakes

that belongs to you.

- I read that book last night.

- How did you like it?

I saw what you meant. He doesn't see

the world very clearly, does he?

All he needs is a good house to live in.

Better give him lots of windows.

Say listen, I'm on my way now

to take a look at his property.

- Would you like to come along?

- No.

Just thought you might be interested.

- I am, but...

- It's not very far.

Not this morning. Thank you.

Maybe some other time?

Change your mind.

- Where is it?

- Bel Air.

- Is this something you do all the time?

- What do you mean?

I don't know, ask a perfect stranger to...

I just feel odd sitting here

with someone I don't even know.

I'm David's father.

You feel better now?

Suppose someone should see us?

We'll have to tell them the truth.

That we're running off to Mexico together.

Would you mind turning back, please?

Are you serious?

Yes.

Well, okay.

- I'm sorry. I just don't feel right.

- That's okay.

I saw one of your houses.

The one in Better Homes and Gardens.

I like the way the fireplace is standing

free in the middle of the room like that.

You know,

that's a caveman concept of architecture.

A roof over your head, a hole to

look out of, and a fire to huddle by.

It was a strange house.

- It was just an experiment.

- No, I liked it.

It had strength and confidence.

How'd you come across such an old issue?

Betty told me your house was in it...

...and I looked it up

in the library yesterday.

Look, this is silly.

You don't really want to go back, do you?

- This is it.

- It's beautiful.

Altar certainly picked himself a spot.

But it's so naked.

You must remember

Mexico is a very primitive country.

That's right.

Here, take this end and go out to

that point, right by that boulder there.

Okay.

- Watch out for the brush.

- All right.

- Will it go that far?

- Sure it will.

Okay.

- How are you going to do it?

- Do what?

If you put a house up here,

it'll roll right down into the street.

We'll have to anchor it to a cloud.

Stay right there and hold it tight

while I go over to the other side.

Yes, sir.

- I love the smell of earth.

- I do, too.

That about does it.

- You mean that's all?

- Just the beginning.

- What's it going to look like?

- I think I know.

- You've been very helpful. Thank you.

- Thank you.

Maybe you'd better drop me off here.

- I'll take you to your door.

- No, please. This would be fine.

Maybe you're right.

This okay?

Yes, thank you.

- I'm glad I came along.

- So am I.

Goodbye.

Who are you?

I was about to ask you the same question.

I'm Larry Coe.

- Sure. Come in.

- Thank you.

So you're the architect?

- That's who I am.

- I'm Marcia.

Hello, Marcia.

Let's hear some of your plans.

Where's Altar?

The genius? He's working.

Would you like a drink?

No, thanks. It's a little too early.

- Do you mind if I have one?

- No, please.

What's he working on?

The Fall of a Stone. Do you like that title?

Are you married or something?

Yes, I'm married or something.

Choke.

You're missing a lot, architect.

Maybe we both are.

Maybe you'd better tell Altar I'm here.

What, and have him snap off my head?

Do you think I'm crazy...

- I thought I heard you. You been here long?

- I just got here.

You still here? I thought you left long ago.

- Now, how can I leave? I'm your inspiration.

- Sure. Baby, I hate to disillusion you.

- You need all the inspiration you can get.

- Go fly a kite, will you, sweetheart?

- Had your breakfast yet?

- And lunch.

- And lunch? What time is it?

- After 3:
00.

No wonder I'm so hungry.

I've been at this thing since 4:00.

- I can't get it right.

- And you won't.

Look, Marcia whatever-your-name-is...

...would it hurt your career

if you kind of cleaned up the joint?

My talent doesn't lie in that direction.

You haven't got any talent.

You don't have any talent.

I don't? You see, he gets lucky

with a couple of books...

...all of a sudden,

he's an important American writer.

I am an important American writer.

The critics said that he wrote with

facile ease, but he hasn't got a thing to say.

The critics. I eat them

like the pieces of cheese they are.

He's dying because they pan his books.

It kills him.

Yeah, I cry all the way to the bank, okay?

All right, now go someplace

and practice your fast draw.

- We're all out of Holland gin.

- And I can understand it.

Got to get rid of that miserable lush.

I'd like to go over those sketches with you.

Lot of laughs, that kid.

Sit down and have something to drink.

No, thanks. Let's get to work. I got

a few appointments with some builders.

Did you have trouble reading the sketches?

- No, I read them fine.

- Good.

It's pretty different from the house

I saw in the magazine, isn't it?

You didn't expect the same house, did you?

I don't know what I expected.

You're the architect,

you've said so often enough.

What's the matter with you all of a sudden?

Nothing.

No, there's something eating you.

What is it, Rog?

I showed your sketches

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